Day 4: Back to the Gym and Learning to Listen

Day 4: Back to the Gym and Learning to Listen

First gym session with tirzepatide - exploring the combination of intense exercise and very low calorie intake. Learning about satiety signal delays and mindful eating.

Current Weight: 126.9kg (-3.1kg from start)
Energy Level: 8/10 (post-workout high)
Hunger Level: Still zero at 11 AM
Sleep: 7.5 hours (7:30 AM wake up, midnight sleep)

The Daily Dopamine Hit

Morning weigh-in: 126.9kg. That’s another 100 grams down from yesterday’s 127kg, and 3.1kg total from my starting weight.

I know it’s just 100 grams. I know daily weighing is not scientifically sound. I know weight fluctuates for a dozen different reasons. But damn, seeing that number drop even slightly gives me such a dopamine rush that I can’t help but smile.

It’s pure psychological reward, and I’m embracing it. Some people get their dopamine from likes on social media - I’m getting mine from a bathroom scale at 7:30 AM.

Still No Morning Hunger (But That’s Not New)

Day 4 and still waking up with zero appetite - though to be fair, I haven’t had morning hunger in years thanks to intermittent fasting. My eating window has typically been from afternoon onwards, so this part isn’t actually Mounjaro-specific.

What IS different is how satisfied I feel with much smaller portions when I do eat. The intermittent fasting trained me not to expect breakfast, but Mounjaro is teaching me to recognize true satiety signals throughout my actual eating window.

Last night around 9 PM I had what felt like psychological hunger more than physical. Ended up eating a can of tuna, one scrambled egg, and a handful of bacon. The fullness hit me like I’d eaten three arepas. The Mounjaro effect is still mind-blowing.

Early Night, Early Rise

Managed to get to bed by 11 PM (early for me) and was probably asleep by midnight. Woke up naturally at 7:30 AM after 7.5 hours of solid, uninterrupted sleep. No middle-of-the-night wake-ups, no tossing and turning.

Used the early morning to study for my driving permit - something I’ve been putting off. There’s something productive about having those quiet morning hours.

Back to the Gym: September Reopening

Finally - the gym reopened after the August closure (classic Spain, everything shuts down in August). Signed up for swimming classes on Wednesday and Thursday evenings around 7-8 PM, plus general gym access.

Today’s workout breakdown:

  • 15 minutes cardio: Treadmill at 5-6 km/h average
  • Leg training: Full routine
  • Chest workout: Complete session

Exhaustion level: 8/10. For context, my 10/10 is “seeing San Pedro” - that point where you’re about to pass out. I’ve hit that before with trainers or particularly intense solo sessions. Today I got close but didn’t quite see the light.

Came home feeling pretty wiped out, but in a good way.

The Satiety Signal Delay

Here’s something crucial I’m learning: there’s a delay with the fullness signal, like lag in video games. It takes 2-5 minutes after eating to really understand how full I am.

This means if I eat too fast or while distracted by a screen, I can easily overshoot and end up uncomfortably stuffed. The body tells you when to stop, but there’s a processing delay.

Today’s Eating Plan

As I write this around 1 PM, I’m finally starting to feel my stomach calling for food. Planning to have some meat today - probably around 1-2 PM when the hunger becomes more pronounced.

Tonight I’ll likely have something light before bed, but I want to be more mindful. Going to eat slowly and pay attention to that delayed fullness signal instead of rushing through a meal.

Blog Launch Success

The blog is officially live and indexed by Google Search Engine! You can actually find it now, which feels surreal. What started as a way to document my personal journey might actually become something useful for others going through the same process.

The Rick and Morty style illustrations are a fun touch - I’m not a huge superfan, but it’s a great way to visualize the daily experiences in a memorable way.

Key Insight: Exercise + Mounjaro

Interesting combination today: intense workout on very low calories. My energy held up well throughout the gym session, though the post-workout crash was real.

I’m curious to see how this combo affects my appetite and weight loss going forward. The exercise definitely felt good mentally, even if physically demanding.


Day 4 complete. The gym is back, the blog is live, and I’m still learning to navigate this new relationship with food. Progress on multiple fronts.